Friday, June 7, 2013

The last two posts have shown the dangers that can befall Black if he does not react properly to 5.c3 in the Jerome Gambit. (For an oddly related game, see "Radioactive". Ouch!)However, as others and I have shown - for an example, see one of my games in the 2008 ChessWorld.net Jerome Gambit thematic tournament - Black certainly has adequate resources.(Ah, that was a tourney to remember! Although my success was "Overrated!" I was happy to take first place, three points ahead of the field, with a score of 16-2-0, winning 7 out of 9 games with White - and 9 out of 9 games with Black.)The following game shows Black taking advantage of one downside of 5.c3 - Black can play 5...d5, and after 6.exd5 Qxd5 White does not have the natural hit at the Queen, Nc3.Knight32 - AsceticKingK9ChessWorld Jerome Gambit Thematic Tournament, 20111.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

4...Kxf7 5.c3 d56.exd5 Qxd5 7.O-O Nf6 8.d3 Bf5

White needs some ideas here, and what he comes up with is not enough to steer the game in his direction.9.Ng5+ Ke8 10.Nd2 Bxd3 11.Re1 h6 12.Ngf3 Kd7

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

The defender who plays timidly against the Jerome Gambit is likely to face some annoying, advancing "Jerome pawns". This is especially the case in the 5.c3 "modern" variation of the opening, as seen in the game below.GmCooper - ddp blitz, FICS, 20001.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+

White is ahead the exchange and a pawn, and has the initiative.13...Nf6 14.Ne5+ Kg8 15.Qf7+ Kh7 16.Qg6+ Kg8 17.Bxh6d6Black could have mobilized a defense of his King with 17...Qf8 18.Nc3 d6 19.Nd3 Bd7 20.0-0 Be8 21.Qg3 Nbd7 22.Be3 when he would simply be behind in material.Instead, he ends the pain.18.Qxg7 checkmate

Monday, June 3, 2013

When Alonzo Wheeler Jerome played his gambit in the late 1800s and early 1900s, he aways followed up 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 with 5.Nxe5+, the move that I use to mark the "classical" side of the opening.
More recently, we have seen a selection of 5th move alternatives for White - 5.c3, 5.d3, 5.0-0, to give a few examples - so I have referred to the "not-5.Nxe5+" lines as those leading to the "modern" Jerome Gambit.
In "Ask Houdini" I indicated that it was time to take a closer look at the "modern" 5.c3. The earliest examples that I have of the move in the nearly 29,000 games of The Database are some blitz and lightning games played online at FICS by JeffreyOM from 1999 and 2000. Admittedly, this finding is of only slight historical interest, as my games collection is overwhelmingly drawn from FICS games, starting in 1999; although it can be pointed out that I have yet to find an over-the-board game with 5.c3, from any year.
In any event, here is a modern game with the modern line by a couple of modern players.Wall,B - ZoisChess.com, 20101.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.c3

Here we go. White decides to limit his generosity and not sacrifice a second piece. He prepares for a large pawn center, and, in some cases, he can bring his Queen to that a2-g8 diagonal.5...d6
A reasonable response, although Houdini 3 prefers 5...d5. Interestingly enough, The Database has 162 games with 5...d6 (White wins 44%) and only 38 with 5...d5 (White wins 20%). This is reminiscent of Bill's reflection: why worry about a refutation if no one plays it?6.d4 Bb6

Objectively, Black's extra piece outweighs White's 2 extra pawns, especially if you consider that he has the two Bishops. However, this is the kind of position for White that a Jerome Gambiteer is likely to be both familiar and comfortable with.12.a4 Nf6
That didn't take long. Black is happy with his advantage, he sees nothing to fear on the Queenside, so he confidently develops his Kingside - and drops a piece. Even when defending against the Jerome Gambit, your game will not play itself.13.Bg5 Ke7 14.e5 Rg8 15.Bxf6+ Ke6 16.g3 c5 17.f4 Bd7

18.Rf1 Bc6 19.f5+ Kd5
Black's King should stay on the Kingside to help defend against the "Jerome pawns". He can probably keep them from Queening, but only at the cost of significant material.20.c4+ Kxc4 21.Rf4+ Kd5 22.Nc3 checkmate

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About Me

I've been researching Alonzo Wheeler Jerome's gambit since 2001. I am always interested in receiving games and analysis: as old as 1874, when the opening first was published, or as recent as today -- casual or serious, blitz or classical time settings, human or computer (or both).
Readers can reach me at richardfkennedy@hotmail.com.perrypawnpusher is the name I play under at different chess sites.
My book reviews and fiction were at Chessville.com - while it lived. I have written for Chess Life, School Mates, and Chess Life for Kids.
Dedicated researchers may connect my name to that of Riley Sheffield - we co-wrote The Marshall Gambit in the French and Sicilian Defenses , published by Dale Brandreth's Caissa in 1988.